Smyth On the Move

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Snake Bite

It wasn't me who was bitten by a snake. However, I was woken up in the middle of the night a few weeks ago by an ear piercing scream. When I went outside my neighbor came running up to my house saying that one of his children had been bitten by a snake while she was sleeping. I gave hime some antiseptic and a flashlight to use and advised him to clean the bite with hot water and soap. The girl who got bit was really small and frail and has sickle cell, so I was really worried about what would happen. I fell asleep to her crying and screaming, hoping that she would be ok in the morning. The next morning when I went to visit she was laying on the ground, not moving. She remained in the same place on the ground, not moving for about three days while her parents shoved herbal medicines down her throat. They must have worked, because on the forth day she was sitting up and the swelling in her leg had almost gone away. I will be sure to get the formula for the medicine before my next ill advised bush walk.